to be honest, not all of them because I was using endnote and I read some times only the abstract. I think there is a way where u go to write the items in pubmed and sciencedirect and so on and to see how many but this is too much ????????

I dont use endnote. Perhaps there is indeed a way to figure it out/trace back how many papers you opened. However I cant help you with that.

Anyway: why does your boss need to know the papers you did read but not used? Never heard something like this.

to be honest, not all of them because I was using endnote and I read some times only the abstract. I think there is a way where u go to write the items in pubmed and sciencedirect and so on and to see how many but this is too much ????????

If you don't know it, then ask it! Better to ask and look foolish to some than not ask and stay stupid.

are u still thinking with me . I thought that I can put the keywords of the review in the search box of all Database I used , then to see the number of article that came up. Then I will gather all articles from these databases and consider it as no of article retrieved ( have been read or explored)

I dont know, I dont use endnote.
And I find it strange that you mention they would wonder about how many articles you really used... All that maters are the one that are mentioned (cited) in your paper...

And yes, maybe what you state might be an idea to figure it out.

are u still thinking with me . I thought that I can put the keywords of the review in the search box of all Database I used , then to see the number of article that came up. Then I will gather all articles from these databases and consider it as no of article retrieved ( have been read or explored)

what do u think

If you don't know it, then ask it! Better to ask and look foolish to some than not ask and stay stupid.